New In: Sandals/Shoe Factory Store Review

Hi everyone!  I recently bought these two pairs of sandals at Shoe Factory, a local Philadelphia shoe store.

These thick strapped gladiator sandals are right on-trend and were only $9.99! 

My pictures do not do these shoes justice-they are so cute on!

  

Not only are these stylish, the material of the straps is straps is very soft and the shoes are really comfy.  

These nude sandals were also $9.99. They are made of a soft microsuede fabric embellished with plastic studs.  I like how they kind of blend into my feet, giving a very neutral and minimalist look.

I decided to write this post after I realized there was barely any information about Shoe Factory online!  This is a local family-owned Philly store that I have been shopping at my whole life.  So, I wanted to do a quick review on this awesome store.

Shoe factory is located in Northeast Philadelphia at Castor and Tyson Avenues.  It is within walking distance of the Roosevelt Mall.  You can check out their Facebook page here.

Shoe Factory sells discount women's shoes and some girls' sizes as well.  The prices are really reasonable, with their shoes averaging about $15 full price. (Their winter boots tend to be more in the $30 range full price.) They also regularly mark down their merchandise throughout the season.  Sometimes there are sales where the whole store is marked down.  Many times, I have picked up some cute shoes there for $4-$7!

Their selection is really random.  They offer shoes in every imaginable color and style.  This store is a great place to check out if you need to match a certain outfit or want some sexy shoes for a night out or a formal event.  They carry many fashion-forward and over-the-top styles.  You can find anything from basic to attention-grabbing, flats to stilettos.  Most of their shoes are unknown brands, or inexpensive brands like Bamboo, Qupid, or Classified.  Occasionally, you might find a store brand like Charlotte Russe or Forever 21.  As a size 5.5/6 I find the selection hit or miss.  Often, they don't have my size, or the sizes run too big for me.  My sister who is a 7.5/8 fares much better.

They only have one location, and the store is cramped with tables stacked with shoes.  It is almost always crowded.  When I can, I like to go on week nights when it is a little more quiet.  There is not much space to walk or try on anything on, but I consider the less-then-perfect shopping experience a small price to pay for such a huge variety of cute and inexpensive shoes!

I also saw a number of bad reviews of Shoe Factory's customer service on store review sites.  This has not been my experience, but I have witnessed moments of tension between staff and other customers while shopping there.  I personally think that this stems from two things: Shoe Factory's bag-check policy, and their return policies.  The staff asks that all larger bags are checked-including handbags!  This is not a common store policy, so I think it leaves some shoppers feeling disgruntled.  I consider it an inconvenience that I'm willing to accept in order to get a good deal, and I simply leave my handbag in the car if it is large.  Also, Shoe Factory's return policy is very strict.  I'm not sure of the details, because I don't do returns, but I think returns are only issued as store credit and many sales are final.  These policies tend to annoy certain customers, but since Shoe Factory is a small privately owned store, it is the owners' prerogative, and being demanding and pushy will get you nowhere! I have been shopping there since I was a pre-teen and never had an issue with customer service.

Shoe Factory is one of my favorite places to shop for shoes, because there are so many great deals to be found.  Just leave your big purse and your attitude at home, and try not to go on Saturday afternoon!

You can also check out a Shoe Factory review from PhillyDiva19154

      

Bargain Brag: Kicks USA $4.99 Sale Haul

Yesterday, a friend of mine alerted me to a sale at the Kicks USA store at the Port Richmond Village Shopping Plaza here in Philadelphia.  The store was having a grand opening event, and she said I should hurry over because there was tons of great clothing on sale for just $4.99!  I have been in Kicks USA stores in other locations, and I knew it was a Foot Locker-type place that sells mostly sneakers and sporty/urban clothing.  I imagined piles of sweat suits, running shoes, and blingy tee shirts that said things like "baby girl."  Mmmm...Not really my style.  I wasn't too enthused about the sale but decided to check it out anyway.

When I got to the plaza, there were hardly any parking spaces.  Even in the parking lot, you could hear a DJ blaring from inside the store.  The store was really bustling, and there were giveaways and all kinds of promotions going on.  There was a fun grand opening event feeling in the air.  Even though the store was really crowded and busy, the sales people were all so nice and helpful!  I have nothing but good things to say about this experience at Kicks USA in Port Richmond Village Plaza.  

It turned out that there were plenty of cute juniors' styles on sale there.  They had a variety of tops, jackets, and pants for only $4.99 each!  I zeroed in on the jeans because I felt they were the best value.  Their selection of jeans were mostly inexpensive juniors' brands that I was very familiar with such as Celebrity Pink and YMI.  While it is pretty easy to find these brands for low prices, they aren't usually THIS low!  I'd say these types of jeans usually cost in the range of $15.99-$29.99, although it isn't unheard of to see them on sale for even lower.  They also had a few brands I hadn't heard of as well. I grabbed stacks and stacks of $4.99 jeans and headed to the fitting room.  To my surprise, almost everything I tried was a keeper.

Here is what I picked up:   

These gray ponte pants feature black flocked crosses and zipper pockets.

$4.99 

The photo doesn't do these black high-waisted YMI dress pants justice!  They fit perfect and the fabric is stretchy and dressy.

$4.99

These dark denim YMI stretch jeans have black faux leather accents.

$4.99

 These are some good basic high-waisted jeans by Lolo

$4.99 

Some stylish dark wash destroyed stretch jeans by Celebrity Pink.

$4.99

I got 2 pair of these "Wanna Betta Butt" jeans by YMI.  One pair has a slightly higher waist with 3 buttons, the other is a classic one-button cut.  I don't think they do anything to make my butt look especially amazing, but these are comfy, basic and have a nice dark wash and a good weight to the fabric.

$4.99 each

These stone-washed super high waist jeans are pretty cool.

$4.99

They also had tops and jackets.  I grabbed this studded light olive jacket, because for $4.99, why not?

Lesson learned: Keep an open mind-you never know where you will find a great deal!

So, where is your favorite place to shop for jeans? What style/brands do you prefer?

Bargain Brag: Mini Haul-Target, 89 Cents Direct, Dollar Tree

 Hello everyone!  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.  Here are a few bargains I scored while out shopping today...

 I got these pink and black washed Mossimo jeans at Target.  They were only $6.88!  The great part is they are an "ankle" cut with a 29" inseam.  I'm loving the ankle styles that are all over because as a shorty, it means that I can actually find jeans with trendy washes and other embellishments that are a wearable length for me.  I like the fun color and the stud detail of this pair.  I really wish these weren't low-rise, but with the good length and great price I surely can't complain! 
   

My sister has been looking to buy some under eye cream, and she actually spotted this deal.  This Target-exclusive set contains RoC eye cream and Neutrogena mascara.  It was on clearance for $11.48, but my sister found the exact same RoC eye lotion, same size and all, selling by itself for $20 just an aisle away!  

I've never tried Roc, but my sister said she's heard good things about the brand, so I thought I would give it a try.

I've also never used Neutrogena masacara.  So, this set was a great way to try both of these out at a bargain price.

I believe in the power of massage as a way to encourage circulation, and discourage weight gain and water retention.  I picked up these little massagers for $1 each at Dollar Tree.

I grabbed this 4 pack of colorful mesh bath poufs at 89 Cents Direct for only 89 cents. 

This earring set was an unbeatable bargain...just 89 Cents at 89 Cents Direct!  Twelve pairs of colorful faux pearl earrings for less than a dollar!  OMG-I love this store!!! Although I regularly wear simple earrings like these, I really bought these more for the nice plastic stand.  I plan to take the pearls off and use it to display my favorite stud earrings.

This neon green friendship-style bracelet from 89 Cents Direct features a blingy Hamsa hand.  I think this will go great with festival-style summer looks. 

This darling pearl bracelet from 89 Cents Direct is trimmed with a silver mesh bow. This will be perfect for demure Asian-inspired spring time looks with lots of lace, peachy neutrals, and tan accessories.

So, what beauty or fashion bargains have you picked up lately? 

Bargain Brag-Franklin Mills Mall Haul

Last weekend I scored some unbelievable deals at Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia...

Forever 21 had and additional 50% off of all clearance items, and I was able to find some really nice things.

This sheer sleeveless collar shirt with pocket studs and a slight high low hem was only $6!

I got this apricot-colored pleated skirt for only $5!

I like the shape of this top, and that it can be worn casual or for work.  It was only $4.50.

This lovely peachy-nude chiffon shirt with a studded collar was only $5 on sale. Wow. (Sorry for not steaming it before snapping the pic!)

Detail of the pretty collar studs

Forever 21 also had basic camis for only $1.80.  These are my go-to layering camis, so I stocked up!

  You can buy them online HERE

I got a $10 gift certificate Dick's Sporting Goods from a Facebook promotion.  I grabbed these Reebok shorts on sale for $13, so after the free $10, I only paid $3 for them. 

Bath and Body Works had a coupon for free lotion on their Facebook page, so I stopped in and picked up this 3oz Sexy Dalia Rush lotion for FREE. Smells really nice, too.

My sister and I ate at Burger King with a $5 gift card that I also got through a Facebook promotion.

Its amazing the deals you find if you look.  This is the first time I've taken advantage of free gift promotions that are redeemable in-store.  

So, Do you use these types of offers?  What is the best in-store freebie you have ever gotten?

Living Larger With Coupons

Tips on how to use coupons to get better, cheaper, or free things!

Although I love a great sale and practically make a sport of bargain hunting, my interest in coupons is fairly new.  (You can read about one of my first couponing scores HERE.)  Before, I used to think that using coupons was bothersome and a waste of time. After a few great couponing buys, however, my opinion on the matter changed dramatically.

Shopping with coupons does take time and care, but I have come to realize that the deals I get with coupons make the effort worthwhile.  I once read a blog about saving money, and in regards to the hassle of coupons and hunting down sales, the author said, "just because you are money poor doesn't mean that you are time poor."  So true!  When I walk out of the store with something for free, or a receipt that shows I saved 50% off of the total after sales and coupons, all of the clipping, organizing, and reading store ads seems well worth the trouble.     

Here are just a few of my awesome coupon deals on cosmetics:

 Almay Intense I Color Liner-FREE at Target with coupons

Physician's Formula Eye Definer Felt-Tip Eye marker-50 cents at CVS with coupons

L'oreal Creme Eye Shadow Stick-FREE at Dollar Tree with coupons

Wet N Wild Nail Polish-FREE with at CVS with coupons

L'oreal Eyeliners-FREE at Dollar Tree with coupons

While I am not anything close to an extreme couponer, I can give you the basics and some tips to get the most for your money with coupons.

Where to find coupons:

• Redplum Coupon Circulars- these are mailed or hand-delivered to homes in many areas of the US.  Do you throw away that little plastic bag with weekly store ads?  I always used to, but that's free money!  
• Sunday Paper Inserts- If, like me, you are fortunate enough to have a family member who subscribes, you can just grab these.  The Sunday paper often contains P&G circulars that have tons of coupons for popular drugstore health and beauty brands.  I don't think I would consider buying a paper just for coupons.  I personally feel like that defeats the purpose, but many people do it.
• Free samples-Many free samples also come with coupons for the product, which is a win-win!  
• Magazines-Occasionally you can find coupons for health and beauty items, or clothing store discount codes in magazines.  I never noticed they were there until I began using coupons.
• Paper Coupons Online-There are tons of printable coupons online!  I don't use these too much.  Printing uses ink and paper, and most of the coupons I find online seem to be the same as those offered in the coupon circulars that I already have.  Also, coupon sites usually force you to install coupon software, and I don't like that idea.  The only printable coupons I use online are Target..and you will see why later in this post!
• Electronic Coupons Online-Some sites allow you to add coupons to your phone or store loyalty card.  I have not gotten into using those yet.  But that seems like a better idea than printing coupons.
• On/Inside Products-Some have coupons stuck to the outside, or tucked away in the packaging.  These are easy ones, because they find you.
• Coupons that print at the store register after you purchase- These are good because they usually are for items that you purchased and not some random thing.

As you see, there are many ways to find coupons to use.  Of course, if you plan to buy a product anyway, and you use a coupon to buy it, obviously you will save more than you would have saved without it.  Use these tips though, and your savings will multiply even more...

How to get the most for your money with coupons:

• Combine the coupons with store sales- Look at the weekly store ads and match your coupons to sale products.  This requires strategy, forward thinking, and self-control, but is the best way to save with coupons.  Most of us go into a store and buy whatever we want or need for whatever price the store asks. But buy the item before you need it, when it is on sale, and use a coupon, and the savings can be amazing!   
• Read the store coupon policy- Every store has a different set of rules.  You need to know their rules to take the most advantage of available deals.  
• Get a store loyalty card- Tons of stores use these to give you savings.  Make sure you get one and keep it with you.
• Shop at stores that allow you to "stack" savings or offer store loyalty savings-"Stacking" is coupon-ese for using a manufacturer coupon and store coupon at the same time.  Most stores with loyalty points or cash back programs allow manufacturer's coupons with these deals as well. It is like doubling your savings! Not all stores do it.  Look for more about how this works in my best places to shop section. 
• Some stores double coupons under $1-This is mostly found in grocery stores, but a good thing to know, none-the-less.  If you find a store that offers both low prices and double coupons, it is amazing how much you can save!  
• Don't be brand-loyal- If you are willing to swap brands, you can save more often. If you are stuck on a certain brand or product, you can still get great deals, you will just have to wait until that specific item goes on sale.  If you are more flexible, that opens up more opportunities for bargains.  
• Don't rule out pricier brands- Before couponing, I would sometimes buy store brands or less-expensive products to save money on health and beauty items such as razors or makeup remover.  Now, I find that with the right sales and coupons, I can usually get the more expensive and higher-quality brands for the same price or less than a full-price store brand.  While you might not "save" any money, you add value, and end up with a much nicer product for the same price as the cheap one!   
• Keep your coupons with you!- This is the hard part.  If you don't have it, or forget you have it, you can't use it.  

The Best Places to Shop Using Coupons:

• CVS-I think CVS is my favorite drugstore to shop lately.  Their store ads are pretty easy to read and usually list actual prices so you can do the math of how much something would cost with your coupon.  CVS has an "ExtraCare" rewards card.  When you sign up, you get special printable coupons, offers, and discounts, but most importantly, you get "Extra Care Bucks" for certain items which are like cash vouchers. And, you can use these savings in combination with manufacturer coupons.  Sound complicated? Well, for example, I bought the Physician's Formula eyeliner... It was $7.50 full price.  CVS had a sale offering $6 in ECB for any Physician's Formula product over $7.  I combined that with a $1 off coupon and got the eyeliner for only 50 cents!  The bad thing is that the ECB are for your next purchase, you must put out the cash up front and then get refunded.  So if you do not go back and redeem the Extra Care Bucks, then you lose out on the deal.  Since I shop there all the time, that is not an issue for me.
• Target- Target has their own store coupons (available online or sometimes found in coupon circulars) that can be combined with manufacturer's coupons.  That is how I got the Almay eyeliner for free.  It's regular price was $4.99 but I had a $3 off Almay coupon, and a $2 off Almay Target coupon=FREE!
• Dollar Tree-Yes,Dollar Tree accepts coupons, too!  Their prices are already just $1.  So, it is awesome getting an already cheap item for even cheaper.  Plus, you never have to wonder how much a product is worth.  If you see a coupon for something that Dollar Tree carries, you can easily figure the cost.  I get a lot of free cosmetic items there because most drugstore brands like Revlon, Maybelline, etc. offer coupons of a dollar or more.  Every now and then Dollar Tree has closeout drug store makeup, like the L'oreal eye shadow and liner pictured.  So with the right coupon, you can walk out with makeup or other items for nothing! 
• Chain restaurants/Fast food- Many chain places offer coupons, usually BOGO deals for fast food or a certain amount of dollars off of the bill at restaurant chains.  I'm not a big fan of fast food, and rarely eat it, but the few times I have this year, I split a BOGO deal with a friend so the two of us ate for the price of one.  During the spring, Dunkin Donuts had a special coupon for free iced coffee every Monday in April! And just the other day, I got a Dunkin iced latte with a coupon for just $1.99 instead of $3.70.  Free and cheap coffee??? What a sweet deal!    
• Shoprite-I didn't really focus on food coupons for this article since my blog is geared towards beauty, but Shoprite has low prices, good sales, fresh products and they double coupons! 

So, my fellow barganistas, do you enjoy using coupons or can't be bothered?  I'd love to hear about your awesome coupon scores, or great stores for coupons that I missed!

       

New In: Striped Dress and Forman Mills Store Review

I recently scored this cute black and white striped dress for $14.99 at Forman Mills here in Philadelphia.  This dress is right on trend, and it fits me perfectly! What I like most about it is that the length is not as short as many dresses (it hits just a little above the knee).  

I met up with a friend after making this purchase, and she told me she had never heard of this store. Until then, I thought everyone in Philly was aware of Forman Mills, with its bright yellow buildings and obnoxious radio jingle.  So, I thought I'd do an article about it.  For those of you who don't know, Forman Mills is a discount store that has several locations in Philly.  I think they also have some other locations in the Northeast U.S.  They sell a little bit of everything: men's, women's, and children's clothing and shoes, accessories, and some housewares.  I remember hearing that they originally used to sell close-out sweat suits and that their business grew from there.  These days, Forman Mills is something of a bargain-basement version of Ross or Marshalls.  

They have a pretty large selection of junior's and misses clothing.  Most of their junior's clothing consists of very random unknown brands, along with some of those inexpensive brands you might see occasionally at department stores such as Derek Heart or Energy.  They also carry closeout items from stores and occasionally designer items.  Some familiar names I saw at Forman Mills during my latest trip are: Forever 21, Rue 21, Gap, Old Navy, Aeropostal, Wet Seal, Charlotte Russe, Mossimo, Kenneth Cole, Limited, Reebok, New York and Company, Guess, and Calvin Klein.  

Their selection is hit or miss.  The store is very large and packed with items.  It is one of those stores where you must look through everything in hopes of finding a few standout items.  I saw quite a lot of cute things this past visit, but more often than not, I leave empty-handed.  That's why I don't go there regularly.  when I do stop in, some deals I commonly find there are: 

Their full-price juniors items-They tend to be just slightly cheaper than other stores but still just as trendy and cute.  These items aren't such a great savings, but like my new dress, they are a fun buy and not at all expensive.        

Basic Tees and Tanks-Forman Mills carries a very large selection of tee shirts and tank tops.  Their full price for these items is low, making Forman Mills a good place to stock up on basics.  The quality of these items varies: some are absolute junk, but many of these items come from well-known mall stores.  It is a good place to check out if you are looking for tops of certain shapes or colors to complete an outfit.  For the most basic tees and tanks, Forever 21 is probably still the least expensive, but Forman Mills is a close second, and they offer a lot more variety.

Lingerie- They sell a mixture of cheaply made bras and panties, better-known brands, and store brands.  The best deals I have ever gotten in Forman Mills have been in the underwear department.  Check the sale rack! In the past have gotten Renee Rafe bra & panty sets for $1...yes, both the bra and panties for $1, as in 50 cent bra, 50 cent panty!!! Here is a picture of a past panty haul.    

Hello Kitty Boy Shorts-$1

Zip up bandeau bras- $1 each

Pink, Hot Pink and Orange bra and panty sets-$1 per SET!

Black floral bra-$1, matching thong-$1

Shoes-They have a small shoe department, and usually don't have anything good, but sometimes I magically catch something I like that is both my size and on sale, so it makes it worth a look.  During my trip last week, I spied these Madden Girl t-strap heels in my size in 2 colors, they were on clearance for only $2.99 a pair!  The bargain hunter in me longed to buy them, but I am trying to be more selective about what I buy these days, and sadly, they just do not fit my lifestyle at the moment, so I left them behind.  

So for all my Philadelphia and surrounding area bargain hunters... Forman Mills is worth a quick look.  If you take the time to sort through it, you can find the occasional great deal! 

Bargain Brag-Macy's/Vivi Preview

Yesterday I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping at Macy's.  Macy's occasionally has good sales, but I do not shop there too often, because for the most part, I am able to find the same or similar merchandise for less at stores like Ross and Marshall's.

But since I was there, I did a little shopping in the junior's department.  

I found this soft open-knit mint green sweater. 

 The tag said $4.99, which was 85% off the original price! 

I was excited about my score, because it is rare to find a nice item like this for so little, especially at Macy's.  

When I got to the register, the sweater actually scanned as $1.99! 

Which is simply amazing...This item is in perfect condition, not so much as a pull.  I'm thinking that either someone returned this, or else it spent some time lost in the back room and was put out on the floor after being marked down, because there is no reason for this sweater to be that cheap! Either way, its mine now. 

Also, earlier this week, I went to dinner in Chinatown for my birthday, and we stopped in a few stores while we were there.

I went in Sanrio and my sister bought me this cute Hello Kitty key cap.

Even the plastic bags are cute in Sanrio

I got Chinese Vivi too.  I recently discovered this magazine, and although I have seen quite a few issues online, this is the first I have ever owned.  Unfortunately, the most recent issue they had was November.  

Vivi is packed with adorable clothes.  If you like Asian fashion you must check out this magazine!  I will try to scan some pages after the holidays.  Here is a little sneak preview of this issue.